Serving plate



July`4, 1944- `.L s. BRADDocK 2,352,684

SERVING PLATE Filed Jan. 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4 1944. J. s. BRADDocK 2,352,684

' SERVING PLATE Filed Jan. 24, 1941 3 sheets-sheet 2 July 4, 1944- J. s. BRADDocK 2,352,584

SERVING PLATE Filed Jan. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 4, 1944 UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE snavmc. PLATE John s. Braddock, Gnnd'aapids, Mich. Application January 24, 1941, serial No. 375,729

(ci. ss-15) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to serving plates, and more particularly to dinner serving plates or txys of the compartment type whose several comp vtments are adapted to contain servings of different foods.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an integrally formed dinner serving plate incorporating relatively shallow compartments for the reception of solid foods and a relatively deep bowl for the reception of liquid food and specically soup, to thus facilitate the serving. of full course dinners at busy lunch counters, in cafe'- terias, and in army and navy training camps or the like by elminating the necessity of providing a separate soup bowl, and further to thus reduce the amount of tableware to be washed after the meal; to provide such a plate whose incorporated soup bowl is of sufficient capacity to hold a full portion of soup; to provide such a serving plate which is so formed as to nest with other plates of L the same form; to provide such a serving plate which can be economically manufactured in porcelain or other suitable composition, or which can be stamped from sheet metal; and to provide such a dinner serving plate or tray which vis sturdy in h construction, attractive in appearance, and con venient to handle.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a porcelain, or other composition, dinner serving plate according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof' taken on `line 2&2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of three such plates nested together, the sections being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of dinner 'serving plate here made of stamped sheet metal;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view thereof taken on lines 6-6 of Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 'l is a perspective view of another modiiied form of dinner serving plate or tray;

Figure 8 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of still another modified form of dinner serving plate or tray;

Figure 10 is a sectional view thereof on line III-I Il of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of still another modied form of serving plate; and

y Figure 12 is a sectional viewv thereof on line I2I2 of Figure 11.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, and referring rst to Figures 1-3 inclusive of said drawings, the dinner serving plate there shown is integrally formed preferably of porcelain or other suitable composition and comprises an upwardly-inwardly extending peripheral base I0 here shown as of upwardly converging conical formation. Voids II in the base I0 serve as handles for the plate, into which voids Il the lingers may be inserted for conveniently lifting the plate.

An elevated food-supporting shelf generally designated I2 is provided withan outer retaining wall I3 here .shown as of downwardly converging conical formation extending downwardly-inwardly from the top of the peripheral base I0. 'I'he shelf I2 is further provided with an inner retaining wall I4 here shown as of upwardly converging conical formation. A plurality of upstanding partitioning ribs I5 extend radially from the inner retaining wall Il to the outer retaining wall I3 of the shelf I2, and said ribs I5 'divide the shelf I2` into a plurality of relatively shallow elevated compartments I6 for the reception of solid foods such as meat and vegetables.

LA concave bowl I1 for the reception of soup or the like depends peripherally from the top of the upwardly converging conical inner retaining wall I4, said bowl I1 being relatively deep and extending below the elevated food-supporting shelf I2 and thus being of great enough capacity to hold a full serving of soup.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a dinner serving plate or tray similar to that previously described but made up of integral stamped sheet metal comeven with the bottom of the peripheral base I8 to further support the elevated food-supporting shelf 20 and thus to prevent distortion of the plate. 'I'he radially disposed upwardly stamped partitioning ribs 2l which divide the shelf 2li into compartments 25 lend further rigidity to the structure'.

The modified form of serving plate or tray shown in Figures 7 and 8 is of square connguration and comprises an upwardly-inwardly extending peripheral base 28, an elevated food-supporting shelf 21 provided with a downwardly-inwardly extending outer retaining wall 2B and an. upwardly-lnwardly extending inner retaining wall 29, a relatively deep square bowl 30 depending peripherally from the top of the inner retaining wall 29 of the shelf 21, and radially extending upstanding partitioning ribs 3| dividing the food-supporting shelf 2l into relatively shallow food compartments 32.

The modified form of serving tray shown in, Figures 9 and 10 is of generally triangular shape and comprises an elevated food-supporting shelf 33 divided by partitioning ribs 34 into relatively shallow compartments 35. One end of this tray is supported by an upwardly-inwardly extending peripheral base 36, while the other end thereof is supported by a relatively deep bowl 31 peripherally depending from the food-supporting shelf 33 and adapted to contain soup.

In the mcdied form of the invention shown in Figures 11 and l2', the food-supporting shelf 38 is not eevated but rests directly on the supporting surface 39, and is divided into relatively shallow food compartments 40 Vby partitioning ribs 4l. This food-supporting shelf 38 has an outer retaining wall l2 and an inner'retaining wall I3 which extends inwardly and upwardly a suilicient distance to accommodate a relatively deep bowl 44 peripherally depending from the top of said inner retaining wall 43.

It will thus be seen that a dinner serving plate or tray adapted to accommodate full servings of bcth solid foods and soup is provided'by the present invention and that the plate or tray is simple and sturdy in construction and convenient in use, and while but several specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details of construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

l. A serving plate comprising an upwardly-inwardly extending peripheral base, an elevated' food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having an outer retaining wall extending downwardly-inwardly from the top of said base and an inner retaining wall extending upwardly-inwardly, and a bowl peripherally depending from the top of said inner retaining wall and extending below said shelf.

2. A serving plate comprising an upwardly-inwardly extending peripheral base having voids therein adapted to serve as handles, an elevated food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having an outer retaining wall extending downwardlyinwardly from the -top of said base and 'an inner retaining wall extending upwardly-inwardly, and a. bowl peripherally depending from the top of said in'ner retaining wall and extending below said shelf.

, 3. A serving plate comprising an,upwardly inwardly extending peripheral base, an elevated food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having an outer retaining wall extending downwardly-inwardly from the top of said base and an inner retaining wall extendingupwardly-inwardly, a bowl peripherally depending from the top of said inner retaining wall and extending below said shelf, and a plurality of upstan partitioning ribs extending radially from sai inner retaining wall to said outer retaining wail.

4. A serving plate comprising an upwardly-inwardly extending-peripheral base having voids therein adapted to serve as handles, an elevated `food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having an outer retaining wall extending downwardly-inwardly from the top of said base and an -inner retaining wall extending upwardly-inwardly, a bowl peripherally depending from the top of said inner retaining wall and extending below i verging conical base, an elevated food-support-A ing shelf supported by`saidbase and having an outer conical retaining wall converging downwardly from the top of said base and an inner conical retaining wall converging upwardly, and

a concave bowl peripherally depending from the top of said inner retaining'wall and extending below said shelf.

6. A serving plate comprising an' upwardly converging conical base having voids therein 'adapted to serve as handles, van velevated food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having'an outer conical retaining wall converging downwardly from the top of said base and 'an inner conical retaining wall converging upwardly, and aconcave bowl peripherally depending from the' top of said inner retaining wall and extending below f said shelf.

7. A serving plate comprising an upwardly converging conical base, an elevated food-supporting shelf supported by said base and having an outer conical retaining wall converging downwardly from the top of said base and an inner conical retaining wall converging upwardly, a concave bowl peripherally depending from the top;

of said inner'retaining wall and extending below said shelf, and a plurality of upstanding partltioning ribs extending radially from said inner retaining'wall to said outer retainingwall.

ribs extending radially from said inner retaining wall to said outer retaining wall.

JOHN s. BRADDCK 

